Unwelcome Guest

                                  To the rich man's bright lodges 

I ride in this wind 

On my good horse, I call you 

My shiny black Bess 



To the playhouse of fortune 

To take the bright silver 

And gold you have taken 

From somebody else 



And as we go riding 

In the damp foggy midnight 

You snort, my good pony 

And you give me your best 



For you know and I know 

Good horse 'mongst the rich ones 

How oftimes we go there 

An unwelcome guest 



I never took food 

From the widows and orphans 

And never a hardworking man I oppressed 



So take your pace easy 

For home soon like lightning 

We soon will be riding 

My shiny black Bess 



No fat rich man's pony 

Can ever overtake you 

And there's not a rider 

From the east to the west 



Could hold you a light 

In this dark mist and midnight 

When the potbellied thieves 

Chase the unwelcome guest 



I don't know, good horse 

As we trot in this dark here 

That robbing the rich 

Is for worse or for best 



They take it by stealing 

And lying and gambling 

And I take it my way 

My shiny Black Bess 



I treat horses good 

And I'm friendly to strangers 

I ride and your running 

Makes my guns talk the best 



And the rangers and deputies 

Are hired by the rich man 

To catch me and hang me 

My shining black Bess 



Yes, they'll catch me napping one day 

And they'll kill me 

And then I'll be gone 

But that won't be my end 



For my guns and my saddle 

Will always be filled 

By unwelcome travelers 

And other brave men 



And they'll take the money 

And spread it out equal 

Just like the Bible 

And the prophets suggest 



But men that go riding 

To help these poor workers 

The rich will cut down 

Like an unwelcome guest